File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Holiday Travel

Snow expected on high-elevation Coquihalla Saturday: Environment Canada

Dec 27, 2024 | 12:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — This weekend will be one of the busiest travel weekends of the year for drivers commuting between the Lower Mainland and the B.C. Interior.

While the weather is giving drivers a reprieve on Friday (Dec. 27), Environment Canada is calling for significant snowfall beginning Friday night and throughout the day Saturday.

Meteorologist Trevor Smith says the highest elevations of the Coquihalla Highway could receive up to 20 centimetres as the system passes through.

“We’re looking at up to 5 centimetres for the tonight period and then more snow on Saturday and Saturday night,” Smith told CFJC Today. “It looks like during the day Saturday is kind of the peak of the storm with up to 10 centimetres falling and then another 5 centimetres coming on Saturday night.”

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For drivers who have spent the holidays away from home and are returning this weekend, the best bet for safe travel conditions will be taking lower elevation routes such as the Fraser Canyon, where the precipitation is expected to fall as rain.

“The snow levels [Saturday] will rise to about 1,200 metres in the afternoon so the snow could get a bit wet, even over the Coquihalla,” added Smith. “I would say the Hope-to-Merritt section of the Coquihalla will be the snowiest, there will be a little bit less over Allison Pass and certainly quite a bit less — probably just rain — through the Fraser Canyon.”

The forecaster says another window of better weather and safer travel conditions should open on Sunday.